Facts About Armadillos

Spanish for "little armored one"

Basic Information

Armadillos are small placental mammals of the family Dasypodidae , mostly known for having a bony armor shell. Their average size is about 75 centimeters (30 inches), including tail. All species are native to the Americas , where they inhabit a variety of environments. In the United States , the sole resident armadillo is the 9-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) , which is most common in the central southern states, particularly Texas .

Dasypodidae is the only family in the order Cingulata . Until as recently as 1995, the family was placed in the order Xenarthra , along with the anteaters and sloths . There are several species of armadillo, some of which are distinguished by how many bands they have on their armor. The nine-banded form cannot roll itself into a ball. They mainly run away or burrow from predators.